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Kerry: 'Verification is the key' in Iran nuclear deal

Secretary of State John Kerry, appearing on CNN's State of the Union, said the prospect of a final nuclear deal with Iran is "not a question of trust," but of verification that the Irans are giving up the

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Kerry: 'Verification is the key' in Iran nuclear deal

Secretary of State John Kerry said Sunday that the prospect of a final nuclear deal with Iran is "not a question of trust," but of verification that the Iranians are giving up the prospect of nuclear weapons.
VPC

A final nuclear deal with Iran is "not a question of trust," Secretary of State John Kerry said Sunday, but of verification that the Iranians are giving up on the prospect of nuclear weapons.

Kerry spoke as the negotiators who crafted a six-month deal with Iran over the weekend exulted while Israel, Persian Gulf states and members of Congress criticized the accord for giving Iran too much.

Kerry hit Sunday morning talk shows across the dial Sunday, telling audiences that without verification, there can be no real deal. Appearing on CNN's State of the Union, Kerry said, "Verification is the key," adding that the United States enters into more negotiations with Iran "with eyes absolutely wide open. We have no illusions."

Said Kerry: "We're trying to set up a process by which we can verify, know what we're doing, restraining the program while we negotiate the comprehensive deal."

Six world powers reached an interim agreement late Saturday night with Iran on its disputed nuclear program after four days of talks in Geneva.

In the six-month interim deal, Iran agreed to limit nuclear activities in return for relief of up to $7 billion in sanctions that have hurt its economy.

"Israel and the United States absolutely share the same goal here," Kerry said on ABC's This Week. "There is no daylight between us with respect to what we want to achieve, at this point. We both want to make it certain Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. And Iran cannot be in a place where they can break out and suddenly get that nuclear weapon."

"Today the world became a much more dangerous place because the most dangerous regime in the world made a significant step in obtaining the most dangerous weapons in the world," Netanyahu said.

President Obama called Netanyahu Sunday afternoon and reassured him the United States would keep Israel up to date with developments. "Consistent with our commitment to consult closely with our Israeli friends, the President told the Prime Minister that he wants the United States and Israel to begin consultations immediately regarding our efforts to negotiate a comprehensive solution," a White House announcement on the call said.

Both Kerry and Obama have called on Congress to forgo additional sanctions on Iran, saying they could kill the interim agreement — but some lawmakers have indicated they will push forward anyway, expressing skepticism about Iran's trustworthiness.

One prominent Democrat — Sen. Charles Schumer of New York — said the deal "does not seem proportional" because "Iran simply freezes its nuclear capabilities while we reduce the sanctions."

The "disproportionality" of the deal "makes it more likely that Democrats and Republicans will join together and pass additional sanctions when we return in December," Schumer said.

Obama, however, can veto any additional sanctions if they pass Congress.

Republicans like Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina have also criticized the agreement.

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said the agreement should be given a chance to work, saying that "the initial six-month framework gives us a chance to test Iranian intentions before reaching a more comprehensive agreement to prevent a nuclear Iran."

Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., issued a brief statement: "It is a choice between a pause or imminent war. I choose a verifiable pause."

Over in the House, Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said the interim agreement should have forced Iran to give up nuclear enrichment now. He called the agreement "disappointing" during an appearance on CNN.

"I do think sanctions should always be hanging there, because that's what brought Iran to the table in the first place," Engel said. "And I don't think you make them bargain a good faith by going squishy."

Rep. Ed Royce, R-Calif., the committee chairman, denounced the agreement, telling CNN's State of the Union that Iran is "a state sponsor of terrorism trying to get a bomb."

Iran says its enrichment program is designed to generate energy for peaceful domestic purposes.